D'Addario Electric Chromes flatwound strings

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 11 Jun 2007 4:08 pm

I just bought some D'Addario strings and replaced the old GHS strings on my Magnatone Lyric and what a remarkable differance in tone and brightness by comparison.

My steel has come to life. The quality of the strings are outstanding. IMHO

Aloha

Don

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 11 Jun 2007 5:00 pm

I hope so. I just ordered two sets to hear the differnce.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 11 Jun 2007 6:36 pm

I have three of my Lap steels strung with the D-adario Electric Chromes. I just love em...

I have not put them on my pedal steel, but I might try?

Dom

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 12 Jun 2007 2:07 am

The Electric Chromes still sound great on my old Fender after 5 months , it's a perfect match for my old Fender . I'm staying with these strings .

Todd Weger · Post by **Todd Weger** » 12 Jun 2007 7:10 am

So, what gauges are y'all using with a 24.5" scale instrument? Do they make a C6 set, or does one have to put together a custom set string by string?

I generally buy the Scotty's 8-string A6 and C6 sets now, and order a low .070 for the low A, B or C (depending on tuning).

Is juststrings.com the best place to buy these?

TJW

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 12 Jun 2007 10:44 am

Just went to the JustStrings website but they only sell wound 20 gauge and thicker. So what are you guys using for the first 3 strings on the steel which is suppose to be plain?

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 12 Jun 2007 10:55 am

I use:

0.017 E (plain)
0.018 C (plain)
0.020 A (plain)
0.022 G (plain)
0.032 E (Chromes)
0.038 C# (Chromes)

On my scales longer than 22.5" ... I just drop everything down by 0.001" or 0.002" ...

Derrick Mau · Post by **Derrick Mau** » 13 Jun 2007 10:28 am

Thanks Rick,

I was wondering more if you guys were just replacing the wound strings with D'Addario Chromes and using another brand for the plains.

JustStrings sells the D'Addario plain, and another version called the Electroplated High Carbon in a 5 pack. How does the High Carbon strings stack up to the plain ones?

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 13 Jun 2007 10:47 am

I buy Just Strings' ... "bulk" plain strings ... and then buy individual Chrome flatwounds.

I'll change the plains maybe once a year ... and the Chromes every other year ...

Whether they need it or not ...

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 13 Jun 2007 12:32 pm

Mike Fried wrote:Ok, I guess what I'm asking is, do they last longer than typical roundwound or "rollerwound" nickel strings?

They definitely last longer. The flat windings keep dirt and grime and finger acids from getting inside and corroding the metal. There is also much less friction from the bar and your picks, so they won't wear as fast that way either.

Lynn Oliver · Post by **Lynn Oliver** » 27 May 2008 11:13 am

I've had a set of Chromes on my Cruztone for six months or so, seeing no reason to change them after reading the comments here. Just recently I picked up another lap steel and installed, of course, a new set of Chromes. Oh-oh... by comparison the Cruztone sounds kinda weak and fuzzy. I guess it wanted a new set of strings as well, because it really woke up with the new strings.

So I would say that six months on a guitar that gets light use is definitely too long, even for Chromes.

BTW, I spent some time looking at the retailers listed on the D'Addario site, and JustStrings.com is one of the more expensive places listed. I placed an order with StringsbyMail.com.

Chris Scruggs · Post by **Chris Scruggs** » 28 May 2008 1:58 am

I use a .065 flatwound D'Addario chrome for the bass A string on my C6/A7 neck. I believe this is what Jerry Byrd recommended for the low eighth string.

I love it!

I have never tried completely flat strings for my other wound steel guitar strings, though. I briefly used the semi flat SIT strings and found that they had an effect on the intonation of my guitar. If I were to play in octaves the lower note was a hair flat and I had to slightly backslant EVERYTHING I did in octaves on the first and fifth strings, especially higher up on the neck. This is never an issue for me with rounds.

Has anyone else ever experienced this with semi flat or flatwound strings on steel?

CS

Kevin Ruddell · Post by **Kevin Ruddell** » 29 May 2008 1:22 pm

Not on Steel, but I did on my Fender Bass when I stopped using round and half round strings . I had to adjust the bridge saddles a bit

Phillip Dokes · Post by **Phillip Dokes** » 23 Dec 2008 2:08 am

Going to put on a set of chromes this week sometime i think. What would be the best gauges for an open D tuning? Been wonderin' what is the difference if i end up using a E or E7th tuning...should i change string gauges for the best sound?

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 23 Dec 2008 8:41 am

I have found only one problem with the D'adario Chromes.......

I have gotten spoiled now, and I can't use any other strings!!!

I put them on my bass guitar and wow! it's smooth like butter, and surprising very bright.

I put them on my hollow body jazz guitar, and of course it was a perfect match.

The only thing I haven't tried is the pedal steel or the tele. Have any of you?

thanks
Dom

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 23 Dec 2008 9:21 am

Sounds like these chromes & the Tribo tone bar is a winning combination.......

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 23 Dec 2008 9:53 am

Haven't tried the Chromes but I'm a huge fan of the Thomastik Jazz/Bebop strings for electric guitar and electric bass. Best feeling and sounding flatwounds I've ever used.

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